Flush type latching device



Feb. 8, 1949. w. A. PAX-TON 1, 9

I FLUSH TYPE LATCH ING DEVICE Filed Feb. 26, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. h zZ/z' w W. A. PAXTON FLUSH TYPE LATCHING DEVICE Feb. 8, 1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 26, 1945 m0 2% d W Patented F eh. 8, 194

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUSH TYPE LATCHING DEVICE William A. Paxton, Detroit, Mich. Application February 26, 1945, Serial No; 579,709

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to latching devices for hingeable or removable doors, covers, hatches or the like and particularly to that type thereof normally flush with a surface of such door, cover, hatch or the like.

Objects of the invention include the provision of a flush type latching device of new and novel construction; the provision of a flush type latching device embodying a minimum number of parts and of minimum weight; the provision of a device of the type described that will largely eliminate the possibility of rattling developing in it because of wear or the like; the provision of a device of the type described that is unlatched by the application of pressure to a member flush with the outer surface of the door or the like to which the latch is applied; the provision of a device as above described in which the releasing of the latch automatically projects a handle from the flush surface and into a position to the man ually grasped for further movement of the door or the like therethrough; and the provision of the door or like structure provided with a flush type latch construction of the general type described in multiples, requiring the separate operation of each thereof to fully unlatch the door door in closed position and the latch in a corresponding latched condition;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; e

Fig. 5 is atransverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; r

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line s- -B of Fig. s; and

or the like, thereby to provide a safety feature 1 against inadvertent unlatching of such door or the like.

The above being among the objects of the present invention the same consists in certain new and novel features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and then claimed, having the above and other objects in view.

In the accompanying drawings which i1- lustrate a suitable embodiment of the present in-.

vention and in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several different views,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of a wall having a door or the like hingedly connected thereto and closing an opening therein, the door being held in latched position by a pair of latching devices constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary, perspective view taken of one of the latching devices employed on the door shown in Fig. 1', from the rear face open position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken through the latching device of the present invention and a portion of the cooperating door of the door and as appearing when the door is in Fig. 7 is a view; similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating the latch inreleased or unlatched position and illustrating the movement of the control element required to release it.

The present device relates to those types of latches commonly known as flush type latches and is applicable for use in connection with doors of various types and kinds, hatch covers particularly of the type employed in connection with aircraft, and generally to that class of devices known as closures for openings in walls or the like. Although from the above standpoints the latch of the present invention is applicable generally to closures of various types and description, it is particularly adaptable to those types of closures which are intended to be open from one side only. Examples of such closures are the so-called hatches leadingiinto baggage compartments of airplanes or thelike, rear deck or baggage compartment covers or doors of automobiles, cupboard doors, refrigerator doors, and to like application as in other fiush type latch mechanisms. The invention is not only desirable in many cases from an appearancestandpoint but is also of an advantage from a safety standpoint in that it does not include any projections beyond the surface to which it is applied to offer hazards from contact therewith by objects moving relative thereto along such surface. Y

As a matter of illustration only itmay be assumed in the present case, by way of explanation of the application of the present invention, that it is applied to-a door or so-called hatch leading to the baggage compartment of an airplane. Under such circumstances and referring now particularly to Fig. 1 it may be assumed that the numeral I indicates a wall of such baggage compartment having an opening therein which is adapted to be closed by the hatch, door-orclosure member 2 hingedly connected thereto along'one side by means of concealed type hinges 3 of any suitable or conventional form. In order to illustrate an added safety feature possible in connec tion with the present invention the door 2 is shown as being provided with two latch devices constructed in accordance with the present inand wall, as on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, with th vention secured to the door in vertically spaced relation with respect to each other so that both latches must be operated in order to enable the door to be opened, this constituting a safety feature as will readily be appreciated in that it eliminates the possibility of inadvertent unlatching of the door 2 which under some circumstances might have dangerous consequences.

It will be appreciated, and as indicated in the various views, that in order to carry out the flush arrangement of surfaces of both the latch, and the door the margins of the wall I around the door opening are inwardly offset as indicated at 4 so that the door 2 in being received against the oilset portion 4 will be arranged with its-outer face in flush relationship with respect to the outer face of the wall I.

The latch device comprises a channel-shaped member indicated generally by the numeral 5 having laterally extending flanges 8 along its edges which are secured to the inner side of the door or closure member 2; 'As'm-or'e clearlyf-disclosed in Fig. 2, the boncmwan of the channelshaped memberis removed over the left part of its length leaving only retainer lugs l which extend-inwardly and act as stops hereinafter eX- plained. In the right end portion of the channel member 5, which is nearest tothe hinged'edge of the door as it appears in Fi '2; the bottom of the channel member'is not cut away. Between that portion of the channel member in which the bottom is retained and the portion in which the bottom is cutaway except for the lugs 7, there is a slot 8 seen more clearly'inFig. 7 formed by cutting away the sides of the'channel member. In

the outer end of the channel member'5, that is,

the end farthest from the hinged edge of the door, there is pivotally mounted a swinging latch bolt 9. As more clearly shown inFigs. -2 and 7,

jacent'to the opening as shown in Fig. *3. The

channel-shaped member '19 is pivotal'ly mounted upon the'cr'oss-pih [2, which is journaled 'illlill side walls of the outer e'ndof the channelrnemher 5. The inner endof the channel inemberKQ-il, that is, the en'dhearest the hinged edge of the cover isprovided with slots I 3 in its side walls that-are adapted to'eng'age a kee'per as will be later explained. There ism-ounted upon the'pi'vot lfla'coil spring l4,one end of which is anchored tothe pivot pin l2 and'the other end of which-is extended to bear against the bottom wall ofthe channel member I 0. This spi'ing is tnsioned to cause'the inner end of the latch bolt 9 to swing outwardly about the pivot pin 12, and to cause the outer end of the latch bolt 9 carrying the wall engaging member H to swing inwardly to clear the compartment wall I. Pins 12a are securedin the ends of the pivot pin I2 and are extended so that their ends bear against'the lateral flanges'of the channel 5 and thereby prevent the pivot pin I2 to which the spring I4 is anchored from rotating. The lugs 1 provided upon the edges of the channel member 5 act'as stops to prevent the swinging bolt 9 from swingingiiiwardly beyond a flush position with the outer surface of the cover'2. V

The'innerportion of the channel member 5, that is, the part nearest the hinged edge of'the closure""member, has disposed therein a reciprpe cable cam member I5, which'is more clearly'showh in elevation in Figs. 3 and 7. The outer end of this cam member 55 is provided with a circular push button 16 which normally lies flush with the outer surface of the door member 2. The inner portion of the cam member comprises a bladelike piece which is attached to the under side of the push button it and is provided with an inclined portion H which acts as a cam, and then with a straight portion 18 which acts as a pilot wall of the channel 5 and has one end bearing against the'shoulder Ila on the cam portion II. This spring is tensioned to thrust the entire cam member outwardly to bring the push button portion 15 flush with the outer surface of the closure member 2 where it is stopped by engagement of another shoulder ill) on cam portion H with the inner surfaceof. the cover 2. As shown in Figs. 2 ands, the side walls of the'right'orinnerportionof the channel 5 are offset inwardly as 'at 2E3. Disposed within this portion of thechann'eli in spaced relation to the offsets 2G is a bearing block 2i and between the surface of the block? and the offset shoulders 2B of the channel member there is disposed a slidable keeperplate zflwhich i provided with a slot in its central "portion through which the cam portion 1"! of the cam member l5 extends. Thus, when the cam mem ber i5 is reciprocatedit causes the keeper plate 22 also to reciprocate by the action of the inclined cam portion ll sliding through the slot in thc plate 22. p I

When the door 2 is in closedpositionQthe parts are as shown in Fig. 3 with the hook member H on the outer end of the swinging bolt'9 ngagin the inner surface of the compartment wall"! ahd locking the cover plate securely over the opening. In this position the push button IE of the cam member i5 is flush with the outer surface of the cover plate, and the sliding keeperplate 22 which is op erated by the cam rnember IB'ha-sits right end engagedin the slot l3 provided'inlthe innerend oi theswinging bolt 9, thus latching the swinging bolt 9 in the position showninFig. When'it is decided to open the compartment push button iG'of the cam'mernber i5 is thrust inwarrlly. This causes the keeper plate 22 to move to the left end to diseng'ageits right edge from the slot i3 in the swinging'bolt 9, whereupon the spring IQ: causes the inner'end of "the swinging bolt 9'to pivot outwardly and the'h'ooked memher i ito swing inwardly. thus releasing the cover and permitting the outwardly swung portion of the bolt 9 to serve as a handle by which the door 2 can be swung open. 'When the opening is to be closed, the'door". is swung inwardly against the compartment wall I and the swinging "bolt 9 is swung inwardly bringing the free end of the hooked member H against the inner surface of the compartment wall i, and acting'as'a lever to bring thedoor '2 t-c-closed position snugly against the wall I When-the bolt Bisswunginwardly as far as it will go,the sli'dable'plate22 engages-the slot 13 and retains the bolt 9 in'lockmg position. The edges of the wall channel member ill, adjacent the slot 13, are'rounde'd or eveled so that the thrust of this rounded or beveled portion will cam the sliding'keep'er plate 22 to the left and permit the latch bolt? to swing completely into closed position. When it is-in this closed position, the slot's'l3 are in; position to receive the edge o'fthe' keeper plate 22 which is forced outwardly by the thrust of the spring is upon the cam member I5.

In the description as thus far given it is, of course, assumed that under the circumstances the only requirement is that the latch be capable of being operated from the outside of the door or closure member 2 and that there is no occasion for operating the latching device from the inside of the same. However, it will be appreciated that where operation from the inside of the door or other closure member is desired or required an suitable means may be provided for withdrawing the cam member 15 inwardly from the inner side of the door. Any suitable type of mechanism may be provided for this purpose and the type of mechanism provided may, of course, vary, de-' pending upon whether a single contro1 is desired for a plurality of latches, and where one or more latches are provided whether such control is to be operated at the latch itself or from a point remote therefrom. As a matter of illustration only such means is illustrated in Fig. 7 and as comprising a ring 23 suitably fixed to the cam member 15 on the inside of the door or closure memher 2 and which may be manually grasped and pulled to move the cam member l5 towards unlatching position.

This latch device is composed of relatively few parts, is simple and cheap to make, as all of it, except the pivot pin l2 and the springs is and 59, may be made from sheet metal, or may be made of castings or forgings for heavy duty use. The hooked engaging member I I is, by reason of its shape, somewhat resilient and is dimensioned so that it will be under tension when the swing ing bolt 9 is pressed inward to engagement with the keeper plate 22. This prevents the cover member from rattling. The spring 14 thrusting outwardly against the swinging bolt 9 also aids to keep it snugly engaged with the keeper plate 22, and thus prevents rattle. The cam member i 5 is resiliently held against rattle by the spring It.

A further advantage is that this latching device is self-contained and does not require any special fittings or keeper means on the co1npartment wall.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim by Letters Patent is:

1. A latching device for a closure member for an opening in a wall or the like comprising, in combination, a latch bolt pivotally mounted on the inside of said closure member and having a projection thereon adjacent said pivotal mounting for engaging the inner surface of said wall and thereby securing said closure member in closed position, said latch bolt being adapted on pivotal movement to swing its wall engaging projection inwardly and away from the adjacent margin of said Wall and its opposite end outwardly away from the outer surface of said closure member, keeper means for retaining said latch bolt in engaged position with said wall mounted inwardly of the outer face of said closure member including a reciprocable tongue accessible at the exterior face of said closure member and flush therewith.

2. A latching device for a closure member for an opening in a wall or the like comprising, in combination, a channel member adapted to be mounted on the inner side of the closure member with its open side opening toward the outside of the closure member and over an opening there in and having the bottom thereof cut away from one portion of its length except for inwardly extending lugs, a second channel member positioned within the walls of said first channel member with its open side facing away from the outer face of said closure member and its closed side facing outwardly, said second channel member being pivotally mounted at one end within said first channel member and having its inward pivotal movement limited by the said lugs on said first channel member, said second channel member having the bottom portion thereof extended beyond said first channel member at one end thereof and reversely bent to provide an engaging tongue for the inner surface of the adjacent margin of said wall and having notches formed in the edges of its side members at its opposite end and its bottom portion filling anopening in said closure member and flush with the exterior surface of said closure member, the portion of said first channel member with its bottom portion unremoved having its side walls ofiset inwardly to provide interior shoulders along its sides, a bearing member mounted therein in spaced relation to said interior shoulders, a keeper plate slidably mounted between said bearing member and said shoulders, a camming device mounted therein comprising a blade extending through a slot in said keeper plate, said cam blade having generally parallel inclined edges adapted upon move ment normal to said keeper plate to cause the same to slide on said bearing member and having a pilot extension slidable in a pilot opening in the bottom of said first channel member, spring means engaging said cam blade and adapted to thrust same toward the exterior of said closure member, and a manually operating member secured to the end of said cam blade and fiush fitting in an opening in said closure member.

WILLIAM A. PAX'I'ON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,160,758 Reinke Nov. 16, 1915 1,711,213 Smith Apr. 30, 1929 2,241,336 Woodson May 6, 1941 2,259,766 Murphy Oct. 21, 1941 2,337,531 Stockton Dec. 21, 1943 

